Violin mute



Dec. 21 1926. 1,611,208

J. W. LESCH VIOLIN MUTE Filed July 13 1925 Wiese attorney Patented Dec.21, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrics.

JOSEPH W. LESCH. OF CLINTON. IOi/VA.

VIOLIN Application filed July 13,

This invention relates to an improved mute for violins and otheranalogous musical instrun'ients, employing strings trained over avibratory bridge.

The construction of the improved device is such that the mute may bemoved into and maintained in contact with one side of the b idge tocontinuously mute the tone, or, to alternately mute and restore the toneat d en 'ntervals, whereby to produce an unu. .21 effect, commonlyreferred to in the profession as a wow-wow effect.

The particular construction for accomplishing this end, together withthe alleged novelty, will be clear by carefully considering thefollowing detailed description and annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a conventional form ofviolin showing the improved mute as employed thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of a mounting.

Fig. Sis side view showing the approximate relation of the mute and thebridge, and

Fig. 4': is a perspective view of a part hereinafter referred to as amounting.

teferring to the drawings in'detail, the reference character 1designates the body of the violin, 2 designates the bridge, and 8 theusual linger board above which the strings 1 are disposed. The strings,of course, pass over the bridge in the usual way and the device may beadjusted to dispose it in a position that it will not affect the tone inany way.

The mute proper is designated by the reference character 5 and it willbe noted that the same comprises block of wood or other material whichis disposed normally in spaced parallelism to the bridge as shown inFig. 3. If desired, the top edge may be rounded somewhat. Extendingforwardly from the bottom is a socket 6 carrying a set screw 7 forapurpose to be hereinafter described.

At this time I might state that the socket together with the block mayrest slidably on the top of the belly of the body. It may be desirable,in some instances, however, to provide a clearance between the mute andbelly MUTE.

1925. Serial no. 43.256.

and this can be accomplished in an obvious manner by the structure to behereinafter described.

A push rod 8 has its inner end telescopically received in the socket 6and held adjustably in place by set screw 7. This rod extends outwardlyover the body of the instrument and is provided at its extreme forwardend with connecting means 9 serving a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 4:, it will be seen that the r ferencecharacter 10 designates a mounting comprising a block 11 resting uponthe body of the instrument adjacent the neck, this block carrying aninwardly extending plate 12 to the reduced free end of which a link 18is pivotally connected. This link is in turn connected to the aforesaidfork 9. A second diagonal link 14 is connected to the intermediate partof the first named link 13. Link H is then connected to the free end ofan operating arm 15 forming a part of a bell crank 16. This bell crankcomprises an elongated thumb operated bar 17 extending in spacedparallelism alongside of the neck and finger board. It should be notedfrom Fig. l that one'end of the block 11 of the mounting is bifurcatedand that the bell crank 16 is pivotally mount-ed between the furcations.This permits the linkage to be disposed in the space existing betweenthe top of the body and the under side of the finger board.

A turn buckle or equivalent device 18 is employed to hold the mounting10 in place and this turn buckle is provided at its bottom with a paddedclamp or jaw 19 enthe bottom of the body. It is yet to be pointed outthat a flat longitudinally bowed spring 20 is carried by the free end ofthe thumb lever 17 and this spring bears against the adjacent edge ofthe finger board. Moreover, a small block 21 is located between theinner end of the finger board and the belly of the body and this isprovided with a guide opening through which the push rod 8 is slidable.This insures that the mute will move into proper contact to acquire thedesired uniformity in action.

By pressing the thumb lever toward the finger board, a longitudinalmovement will be imparted to the push rod 8, and the mute will. he slidinto contact with the front face of the bridge. The idea is that thethumb lever being considerably long, it always is within. convenientreach of the thumb of the left hand while playing. At the playersdiscretion, he may literally squeeze this thumb lever and in so doingmove the mute into operative relation with the bridge, thus giving anydesired tone. lVith this arrange ment a group of different tones may bemuted or the different tones may be preferably muted and restored totheir natural conditions.

Obviously, this will give an unusual jazz effect by alternating the tonein this man ner. In fact, it will simulate to a very great degree, thewow-wow effect produced by the trumpet, horns, and the like. Thedistinction between the open and muted tone will be clear indeed.

Should it be desired to bring the mute into play while playing acomplete composition, this may be done by sliding the mute into contactwith one side of the bridge by loosening the set screw and thentightening it and holding it in association. Of course, when the mute isin this nosition, the operating means need not be actuated. The effectwill be that of the ordinary mute, although, owing to the rigidity ofthe structure, the muted tone itself will be of a characteristic nature.

As previously intimated, the invention is not to be restrictivelyused ona violin, for it may be easily well used on string instruments of thesame family, and on analogous string instruments where a mute iseffective on a stringed bridge.

No doubt, a consideration of the description, in connection with thedrawings will enable persons familiar with this particular class toobtain a clear understanding of the invention. Therefore, a more lengthyde scription is thought unnecessary.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been specificallydescribed and shown, it is to be understood that minor changes comingwithin the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In astructure of the class described, a mounting, a bell crank pivotallyconnected with said mounting, said bell crank embodying an elongatedfinger piece a return spring, a mute, a push rod connected to said mute,a link pivotally connected to said push rod and to said mounting, and asecond link connected to the operating arm of said bell crank and theintermediate portion of said first named link.

An attachment for a conventional violin comprising a mounting adapted tobe connected with the body of the violin at a point adjacent the innerend of the neck of the violin, a mute adapted for disposition in spacedparallelism to the usual bridge, a push rod adjustably connected at itsinner end with said mute, an operating means for said push rodcomprising a bell crank pivotally mounted upon said mounting, operatingconnections between one arm of the crank and said push rod, the otherarm of said bell crank being ofelongated form and being adapted toextend alon side of the aforesaid neck for operation by the thumb of theplayer, and spring means associated with said last named arm.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH -W. LESCH.

